Define community nursing as it relates to nurse practitioner practice. Describe the nurse practitioner’s role in screening and promoting health for people in the community. Support your answer with evidence-based research. Community Nursing as it Relates to Nurse Practitioner Practice Community Nursing as it Relates to Nurse Practitioner Practice Expectations Initial Post: Length: A minimum of 250 words, not including references Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years

Community Nursing as it Relates to Nurse Practitioner Practice

Community nursing, within the realm of nurse practitioner (NP) practice, pertains to the provision of specialized healthcare services by nurse practitioners to both individuals and collectives within a distinct community or population. The focal point lies in prioritizing health promotion, preventing diseases, and providing primary care services to marginalized or susceptible populations in non-conventional healthcare environments (Edelman & Kudzma, 2021). NPs within the realm of community nursing assume a crucial and central position in enhancing health outcomes. This is accomplished through their adeptness in tackling the intricate web of social determinants of health, customizing care to align with the distinctive requirements of the community, and nurturing patient empowerment to achieve optimal well-being.

Nurse practitioners play a pivotal role in screening and promoting health within the community. They perform screenings for many conditions, encompassing hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases, thereby discerning health hazards in their nascent stages and facilitating prompt interventions. As exemplified by the scholarly investigation conducted by Aerts et al. (2022), nurse practitioners exhibited commendable proficiency in identifying individuals susceptible to cardiovascular ailments through their active involvement in community screenings. Furthermore, these astute healthcare professionals administered lifestyle interventions that yielded favorable outcomes, improving patients’ overall well-being.

Moreover, NPs actively participate in facilitating health promotion initiatives, wherein they impart knowledge to individuals within the community regarding optimal lifestyle choices, effective measures for disease prevention, and the significance of regular screenings. The proactive approach discussed here is on the fundamental tenets of population health and has demonstrated favorable outcomes. A comprehensive examination conducted by Steel and Lloyd (2021) revealed that NPs, through their involvement in community health promotion endeavors, have demonstrated a commendable ability to enhance awareness and foster the adoption of healthier lifestyles among their patient population.

In summary, community nursing in NP practice revolves around offering personalized healthcare to a particular population, concentrating on proactive measures and tailored care. NPs’ role encompasses community health assessments, risk identification, and education to promote well-being. With the backing of research findings, attention is drawn to the advantageous effects of NPs’ involvement in community-based efforts. Specifically highlighted is their potential capacity for improving health outcomes and encouraging healthier ways of living.

References

Aerts, N., Anthierens, S., Van Bogaert, P., Peremans, L., & Bastiaens, H. (2022). Prevention of cardiovascular diseases in community settings and primary health care: A pre-implementation contextual analysis using the consolidated framework for implementation research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8467. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148467

Edelman, C., & Kudzma, E. C. (2021). Health promotion throughout the life span – E-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Steel, A., & Lloyd, I. (2021). Community education and health promotion activities of naturopathic practitioners: results of an international cross-sectional survey. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03467-z